California Giant Salamander

The California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) is a species of salamander in the family Ambystomatidae. D. ensatus is endemic to California, in the western United States. Terrestrial adults spend most of their lives on land in close proximity to fresh water. In contrast, during breeding, in larval development, and neoteny they spend their time inside shallow fresh water. The species once additionally included individuals now belonging to the species D. aterrimus (Idaho giant salamander) and D. tenebrosus (coastal giant salamander), under the common name Pacific giant salamander now refers to the whole genus.